Emergency Management in Community Spaces

In September 2017, two major hurricanes hit the U.S. Virgin Islands, causing billions of dollars in damage. In response, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided more than $1.9 billion in grant funding to help repair damaged infrastructure, among other efforts.1

As noted throughout this Studio’s research and work, natural disasters and storms are a great threat to St. Croix. Additionally, with climate change, these natural threats, such as hurricanes and flooding, are expected to increase in intensity.2

Citizens vulnerable to these threats may seek shelter or assistance in community safe rooms. Community safe rooms are classified as any safe room not defined as a residential safe room, such as those intended for use by the general public.3 Thus, it is important that not only do community safe rooms exist, but also that citizens are familiar with the locations of these sites, feel safe and welcomed, and are protected and accommodated in these spaces.

Modern community safe rooms aim to be functional, inviting areas for assembly in the everyday life of citizens. Spaces of majority gathering and workforce development, such as places of worship and club meeting spaces, that are especially familiar to the ecologically vulnerable, elderly, and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations were preferred locations in our analysis.

The Emergency Management in Community Spaces Project is inspired by the St. Croix Foundation’s work with the Alexander Theater.

The Emergency Management in Community Spaces Project was created by Joann Zhao, Lexi Lee-Ittah, Olivia Marcus, and Wynter Adams. The Project focuses on the Williams Delight Basketball Court as a proposed safe room location.

Extreme Weather Hazard in St Croix

Tsunami Evacuation Zone

Riverine/ Coastal Flooding Zone

Storm Surge Zone

Extreme Weather Hazard Evacuation Map

Airport/ Seaplane Base

Assembly Point

Anchorage Area Hotels Beaches

Sirens Health Clinic Campground Area

Ferry Terminal/ Cargo Port/ Cruise

Tsunami Evacuation Zone

Flooding Evacuation Zone

Local Culture and History Heritage

Island-wide Community Resources

Potential Community Space Functions

Funding

Programming

STX Hazard Study

Safe Room

Contingency Plans

Multifunctional Facilities

Building Code/ Requirements

Community Safe Hub

Emergency Management Community Space Design

Site Plan of New Community Hub

Island-wide Proposed New Safe Room Locations

Summary & Our Process

Our analysis began by researching information about FEMA Safe Rooms, including requirements, codes, regulations, and funding. This led us to question what best practices exist around emergency management and creating safe rooms- regarding general location and site-specific characteristics, population capacity, target demographic, and potential funding sources. With this, we concluded that an effective, modernday safe room should be located close to a densely populated area and serve as a multifunctional facility that benefits the local community in both times of disaster and blue-sky days. Additionally, a safe room located in a high poverty area would best serve the needs of vulnerable populations.

Focusing on St. Croix, we researched, analyzed, and mapped existing safe room sites, as well as future safe room sites planned. Our finding indicated that there are not enough safe room sites or capacity to serve the island’s population, and that safe room sites are not adequately or evenly distributed thorough the island.